Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Centre has declared an outbreak in one of its high-security units.
According to a notice on its website, the Penetanguishene facility was notified Saturday that a patient in its Awenda Program had tested positive for COVID-19. This patient is not a recent admission and is isolating.
"We are considering the Awenda Program in outbreak status and isolation precautions for all Awenda patients have been put in place," the notice reads. "No other patients are showing symptoms and all Awenda patients and staff are being tested."
The hospital notes that the outbreak is limited to the Awenda Program, which provides programming for males with a serious mental illness or who may be dually diagnosed, within a highly-structured, high-secure environment.
As well, the program is currently closed to all transfers unless for emergency medical reasons until the outbreak is over.
"The hospital remains open for admissions to our Swing Unit and all other clinical programs are continuing activities," the hospital says. "Our multiple safety precautions include keeping patient programs separated for activities."
According to Waypoint, the infected patient had been wearing a mask and adhering to other safety measures, including proper hand hygiene.
"Waypoint has multiple safety measures in place for staff and patients and at this time there is no evidence of high-risk exposure and the risk of transmission is considered low," the hospital notes.
"This is the first patient case at Waypoint since the pandemic started. We have had eight staff cases to date. We know that this news is difficult but we can assure you that all infection prevention and control procedures are in place and are being followed."
As of Sunday, about half of Waypoint staff have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
"At this time, we do not have confirmed timing for when our patients and clients will be able to access the vaccine, but we continue to advocate for inclusion as soon as possible," the hospital notes.
"Like all other hospitals in our region, we continue to operate in Phase 1 of visiting protocols."
That means that since Dec. 9, all in-person visits have been cancelled with the exception of visits for vulnerable patients.
"Our team has been working diligently to increase access to virtual visits with additional iPads and devices on the programs, with more iPads expected in January," Waypoint notes.
"As case numbers increase across the province, and hospitals face outbreaks and high occupancy with ICU capacity as high as 115%, Waypoint is supporting the health care system with a plan to increase patient beds if required."
The move has required Waypoint to delay the resumption of its Georgianwood concurrent disorders inpatient beds until the concern for hospital capacity is understood.
"While we are disappointed in this delay, it is necessary to meet the demand of the entire health care system," the hospital says. "We will be regularly reassessing this to be able to resume these services as well as the resumption of our Forensic Assessment Program Unit B as soon as possible."
